Shaft coupling



July 9, 1929o K. R. MANVLLE V A 1,720.422

SHAFT COUPLING Filed Jan. 17, 1923 Patented July 9, 1929.

UNITED STATES ljllrlil PATENT` GFFECL.

KEITH R. MANVILLE, OF BROOKLYN, NEW' YORK, ASSIGNOR TO IITTERNATIGNAL MGTOR COMPANY, 0F NElV YORK, N. Y., A CORIQRATIGN OF DELAWARE.

SHAFT COUPLING.

Application filed. January 1*?, 1923. Serial No. 613,116.

The construction sought to be covered herein is one provided for the purpose of effect ing a nice adjustment between any two shafts whose angular relationship is to be iiied, as through meshing gears. The invention is designed primarily with reference to its use for the adjustment of the proper angular relation between a `cani shaft and a crank shaft of an internal combustion engine. The principle itself, while embodied heretofore in other constructions is one which lends itself admirably to the particuv lar requirements iu internal combustion engine practice and the improvements to be pointed out hereinafter in the application of the principle are characterized by many advantages not heretofore obtainable and which are of importance where facility for assembling and disassembling and convenience and certainty in adjustment are required. The principle involves the use of a varying number of holes or teeth as between two elements, such as disks, which are relatively rotatable, one of the elements being loose on a shaft and the other keyed or otherwise secured thereto. Suitable securing means co-operating with the holes or teeth serve to maintain the two elements in desired angular relation and the varying number of holes or teeth aiiord that nicety of ad justment which is desired. ln accordance with the preferr d embodiment of the invention a gear, such as the driving gear for a cam shaft, is mounted loosely on the shaft driven fromy the crank shaft and the angular position of the gear is fixed by locking therewith a retaining disk which is iixed on the shaft, a securing element extending between alined holes or teeth formed with the gear and the disk, respectively.

@ne of the principal objects of the invention is to improve the securing device by forming it of such construction and engaging it with the two parte to be locked as to insure the maintenance of the securing element in proper locking engagement there with. A further object is to provide a lockn ing peg for two relatively adjustable elements on a single shaft which may be handled conveniently when the two parts are brought into adjusted engagement.

The particular features of the inventionl with which this application is concerned will appear with some particularity hereinafter with reference to the illustrated embodi ments wherein:

Figure l is a view in section through a gear whose angular relation to its supporting shaft is to be adjusted. Y

Figure 2 is a view in end elevation of the gea r showing the holes with which it is provided in its face.

Figure is a view in end elevation of the retaining disk for the gear and indicating a diilerent number of holes therethrougl'i.

Figure Ll is a view similar to Figure l but illu 'ating another embodiment of the invention in which a spacing washer is provided aud used to carry theA locking pin.

As shown in Figure l a gear cr which mav be employed, for instance, for driving a cam shaft, is mounted loosely on a shaft b and provision to l made for securing the gear onto the shaft in adjusted angular' relationn ship therewith. On the end of the shaft is keyed or otherwise secured what will hereinafter be termed a securing disk e to which the gear a may be fastened for rotation with the sha-ft. b as is desired. The improvements have to do with the particular means for securing the gear ai to the disk c in adjusted relation which adjustment, of course, provides for thc adjustment of the gear with respect to the shaft. In the face of the gear a are formed an annular row of holes a/ of any desired cross-section and depth illustrated herein, for convenience, as heilig circular to receive a cylindrical pin CZ, The disk c is formed also with an annular row of holes c which, for convenience, may extend through the disk. The number of holes in the face of the gear ai and in the disk c will vary by one so that by changing the alinement of holes an angular adjustment between the two elements will be obtained. The nicety of this adjustment depends upon the number of holes in each. In internal combustion engine practice it is essential that parts be accessible for assenr blingl or replacement and in a device of the character illustrated it is particularly important that the adjustment provided be effected readily and certainly. To meet these requirements there interposed between the gear 1, and the' disk c a plug d which is shouldered so that one end d is of a. different diameter from the other end. In like manner, the holes ai iu the gear a are made of greater' diameter than the holes c in the disk 0 so that when the enlarged end l of the plug is inserted in the holes w and the disk c then slid onto the shaft b the shoulder (Z2 of the plug will rest on the inner face of the disk 0 which thereby prevents displacement of the plug'. Then adjustment is to be made it is evident that the disk c may be backed otlq until it clears the plug section d for insertion o?? the latter in another pair of registering holes a. A nut may be used tor finally locking` the disk c on the shat't against axial morement.

' In the embodiment shown in Figure l substantially similar parts correspondingly arranged are provided except that the `gear A. is separated from the disk C by means oitl a sliiacing,` washer e which carries permanently a pin j" which is received by holes A', C', in the proximate faces or" the gear A and disk C. These holes in this embodiment may be of the same diameter since the washer e serves not only the purpose of spaeingthe disk from the gear but the additional purpose of carrying the securing pin f and helding, it against accidental displacement or loss when the parts are assembled or adjusted.

A nut B serves to hold the disk C on the shaft l against axial dislilacemeiit as described with reference to the nut B.

lVhat I claim is:

In combination with aV shaft and a gear mounted looselj7 thereon and formed with recesses in one tace and a` disc removably keyed to the shaft and formed with a number of holes greater by one than the number ot recesses in the face of the gear, the ceuters of the recesses and holes defining a single circle concentric with the shaft, a shouldered pin having sections of ditterent diallieters, the section of smaller diameter beingr adapted to rest in one ot the holes in the disc and the section of larger diameter being adapted to rest in one of the recesses in the tace ot the gear when the parts are in assembled relation, said pin being,y adapted to cooperate selectively with said recesses and said holes to provide a line degree ot axial adjustment for the gear with respect to the shaft.

This specification signed this 15th day ot January` A. D. 1923.

KElTH R. hflANVl LLE. 

